The Maoist cadres led by one Bikal of the cantonment started beating youths at 10 in the night and also vandalized houses in the process. [break]"We were sleeping when a group of 25 to 30 persons smashed the door, took me out and thrashed me with the butt and barrel of guns and sticks," Suman Thamsohang, a local, said.
Man Bahadur Fago, Minshu Fago, Chandra Nugo, Chhabilal Limbu and Dipendra Tumbahamfey were released Tuesday afternoon with bruises all over the body 16 hours after they were taken to the cantonment two kilometers away from the village. The cantonment had called the members of the local Peace Committee to the west gate to receive the abducted persons but left them at the east gate. The five were taken to Damak, Jhapa for treatment immediately after release.
Jit Bahadur Limbu, who was badly injured in the beating, has been taken to Neuro Hospital Biratnagar, while Yogmaya Tumbahamfey claimed the Maoist cadres also looted her jewelry.
The Maoists vandalized the houses of the abducted five and Tara Fago, Mahasamiti member of Nepali Congress. "They had come to our house at around midnight. We were spared as we were on the first floor but they vandalized the house and motorcycle," Tara Fago said. The Maoists carried out their atrocities despite the presence of Nepal Police and Armed Police Force in the village.
Locals claimed that the Maoists thrashed the villagers to avenge the attack on them during a wedding ceremony four days ago. "We had chastised a combatant for misbehaving with a woman. A gang of 15 to 20 cadres had later returned to the village but we had fought them away," a local explained.
But the cantonment claimed that Dhruba Lawati, who had not been able to extract commission from a contractor doing graveling work inside the cantonment, had thrashed the combatants during the wedding. "He had severely beaten up five other combatants who had gone for rescue as well.
The incident occurred after combatants went in search of Lawati and his supporters because the police didn´t take any action despite a complaint," Pratiksha of the headquarters said and claimed that those taken to the cantonment were not beaten.
Combatants clash with locals while playing football
The combatants of Danabari satellite camp under the First Division had also clashed with locals of Danabari-9 over a game of football Monday. A combatant shoved a local player to the ground and trampled on his back after the local tackled him during the match.
"Around 30 to 40 combatants came from the camp and brutally thrashed four youths after locals entered the ground to intervene," a local said. Two of the four youths have been taken to Siliguri, India for further treatment.
The tournament organized for peace and bonhomie has been halted after he incident.
NC condemns Maoist attack on cadres
Nepali Congress (NC) has condemned the attacks on its cadres by the Maoist combatants cantoned in Ilam on Monday night.
In a press meet organized at the party head office in Sanepa, the party stated that around 60 armed Maoist combatants attacked NC cadres in Chulachuli VDC-1 at midnight on Monday.
"It is doubtful if the cantonments have really come under the Special Committee. It is the first, but serious crimes committed by the combatants after UNMIN´s exit," said NC General Secretary Krishna Prasad Situala.
According to the party, the Maoist combatants beat up 12 party cadres severely before abducting them.
The Maoist combatants later released eight, but the whereabouts of four has yet to be established.
According to a statement issued by the party, one Suman Thamsuhang, who was severely beaten and left in the lurch, was rescued by security personnel.
NC party has asked the Maoists to immediately stop such criminal activities and ensure that such incidents are not repeated in the future.
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